Friday, July 10, 2015

Blue and White China Part II

Today's post features blue and white china on the second wall unit, as well as the center section joining the two units together.


Beginning on the bottom row and working upward - A Bombay teapot sugar and creamer [left], purchased before they liquidated and closed their stores in the United States in 2008. Later I got the two teacups and saucers on E-bay.  The tea set sits on a white scalloped Fenton cake stand.   Sadly, Fenton ceased production of its glassware in 2011.  


Bottom center is my newest acquisition for the wall unit which I just purchased yesterday at an antique store in Grand Rapids, Ohio [a detailed post about the outing will come next week]. I needed something tall to balance the shelf, and this Blue Willow piece worked perfectly.  Research revealed it's a carafe and warming stand, and I love its uniqueness. There are no markings on the bottom of either piece, so I don't know its provenance.  Behind it is a Blue Willow plate made in England, and next to it is a Blue Willow teacup and saucer made in China.


On the right is Cobalt Blue Depression Glass - the plates are Moderntone pattern, and the cups and saucers are Aurora, both by Hazel Atlas.  Behind the Depression Glass is an imitation Flo Blue plate from Cracker Barrel.


Second shelf [left] is a commemorative plate from Winterthur Museum purchased when I visited in September 2014.  Next to it is a Tea and Toast set by Sadek my girlfriend brought back from Philadelphia, PA.  In front is a Lomonosov Russian Porcelain teacup and saucer in the Cobalt Net pattern.  [I would love to have the tea set to match someday, but it's very pricey.] Lastly, a replica First Class Titanic teacup and saucer purchased at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in 2014.


Two trios below are the china used at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, B.C. for their Afternoon Tea.  My hubby bought me one teacup and saucer when we visited Victoria in 2003, and I bought the luncheon plate when I returned in 2008.  The second trio I acquired on E-bay.  My hubby and I will be returning to Victoria next year for our 50th Wedding anniversary and I hope to buy the teapot to match.

The  history of the china is interesting:  It was produced and presented to King George V and his wife, Queen Mary, in 1914 upon the opening of the Booth China Factory in England. Later, the china found its way to Victoria, and graced the tables of the Empress when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth came to visit in 1939.  It was carefully stored away and didn't appear again until 1951 when Princess Elizabeth visited.  Eventually most of the china was either lost or broken.  Fortunately pieces of the original china were re-discovered in 1995 in an antique shop in Victoria, and the 'Royal China' pattern was meticulously duplicated by Royal Doulton [who purchased the Booth factory].  It has been gracing the table settings of the Empress Tea Room since Victoria Day weekend, 1998. 


Another imitation Flo Blue teapot and butter dish from Cracker Barrel [right], and an English Burleigh teacup and saucer in the Arden pattern purchased when I had Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian Hotel last summer.


Third row [left back], barely visible is a Blue Danube teapot trivet, in the foreground is a replica of Titanic second-class passenger china, and next to it is a Holland Delft tea caddy.


An over-sized teacup with infuser basket and lid purchased at the Charleston, S.C. Tea Plantation in the summer of 2008.  I love the tea clipper pictured on the cup.  Next to it is a teacup and saucer from Cracker Barrel.


Currier and Ives replica teapot [center] from Cracker Barrel. [I definitely boosted their sales that Christmas! ;-)]


A small Blue Willow Sadler teapot.


My hubby bought the blue transferware teapot for me when he traveled to the Civil War Headquarters of General Robert E. Lee in Gettysburg, PA with our youngest son in 2012.


Three pieces of china from England's Rington Tea Company [far right].  The teapot and tea caddy in the forefront were gifts from a dear friend's mother who lives in England. In back is Rington's commemorative Centenary teapot from 2007.  My good friend, Angela, at Tea With Friends blog spotted it when we were shopping in an antique store in Kentucky in 2014, and called my attention to it.  I happily added it to my collection.  


Top row, Shelly trio [far left], Lowesloft pattern, a gift from my girlfriend.  Beside it a blue and white Duchess teacup and saucer in the Genevieve pattern.  Next to it a Lefton bowl and pitcher my sister-in-law gave me over 30 years ago.  For a time, my bathroom was blue and white, and can you believe I used it for a toothbrush holder?  I wised-up that it was collectible and I shouldn't risk breaking it, and bought a 'real' toothbrush holder! ;-) In the forefront, a Spode Blue Room Collection "Girl at Well" teacup and saucer, first introduced in 1822.  


A Gracie china teapot [top center] and a hand-painted blue floral ramekin. [I collect ramekins and will share my collection here someday.]  Beside it a blue and white porcelain clock my daughter gave me for my birthday several years ago.


Rosina chintz teacup and saucer [top right] purchased when Cristy's went out of business last year [still sobbing].  A blue and white porcelain basket purchased at a resale shop on my 2014 trip to Pennsylvania, and lastly a blue transferware teacup and saucer my hubby got me when he purchased the teapot in Pennsylvania.


Center connecting shelf to wall units.



Music box [left] from my hubby for Christmas ten years ago.  The blue and white porcelain figurines were my mothers.


Commemorative tea history plate by Mason's in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England [right].  I got it from my friend, Denise LeCroy, several years ago when she bought two on a visit to England, and sold one to me. Blue and white Gaiwan from Teaism when I visited Washington, D.C. this spring, and the Blue Willow handle-less teacups were purchased at the Biltmore gift shop on my visit last month. The first teacups in China, Europe, and the United States were small and handleless. Handles didn't become a standard feature until around 1760.  19th century tea chest [far right] found in an antique store in 2011. 


That concludes the blue and white china displayed on the new wall units.  I've  thanked my hubby over and over for building them so I can see and enjoy my collection everyday.  

One more post to follow about blue and white china that's not displayed on the wall units.


4 comments:

  1. I bet that this has been like a trip down memory lane revisiting all your beautiful blue and white treasures! And your husband does fabulous cabinet work. Lucky you!

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  2. Oh so beautiful! Jerry is so talented! What wonderful workmenship! I love the way you placed all of your lovely tea treasures and your wall hanging compliments the shelving units so well. I enjoyed seeing all your blue china! Your new tea room is gorgeous!

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  3. I love the china and the blue background!

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  4. I just love all of this! What a treat to see it all displayed and to hear the memories of where different pieces were obtained. I especially smiled at the figurines that were your mother's - I have two very similar ones that belonged to my mother (and maybe to her mother) but they have green flowers decorating them. Oh, and the cobalt blue DG is GORGEOUS! Well, it's all gorgeous, actually. And the blue cabinet backs set off everything so nicely, I may have to borrow that idea down the road.

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